Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has responded to reports of a R35 million proposal for starlet Relebohile Mofokeng, who was impressive in the Soweto giants' latest match.
A report by American journalist Tom Bogert, published earlier this week, claimed Major League Soccer outfit Minnesota United had tabled an offer in the region of over $2 million (around R35 million) for the signature of the highly rated winger.
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The US-based club is already familiar with South African talent through Bafana Bafana attacker Bongokuhle Hlongwane, who has blossomed into a key player for them since joining in 2022.
Mofokeng was in the starting line-up and played the full 90 minutes as Pirates collected their first league win of the season against Stellenbosch on Wednesday at Orlando Stadium.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ouaddou was asked what he had made of the recent report.
"I’m sorry about that question, you know. Today I am only focused on the game against Stellenbosch. I didn’t have to look at the media [reports].
"What I know is that Rele is with us, and today he did well. It means that he is with us, and I hope he will be with us," said the lanky tactician.
The 20-year-old, who is a back-to-back PSL Young Player of the Season, played a somewhat unfamiliar number 10 role for Pirates and kept the opposite defence busy with his runs and eye for a pass.
"I cannot say I see him in the future in that position," explained Ouaddou.
"As a coach, you have to analyse the profiles of the players you have. Analyse the connections between them, to see what can work, and what cannot work.
"I thought it was a good connection between him, [Oswin] Appollis and [Kamogelo] Sebelebele. Maybe we can see him again in that role, but he can still play on the side.
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"Rele is a profile of a player that we have to give freedom. He is the kind of player who is technically very intelligent, clever, and you cannot just keep a player on one side or stick to one role.
"He is the kind of player that you need to give freedom. I thought today, he had a lot of freedom," maintained the head coach.
With 12 goals scored and 13 assists provided, in a total of 25 goal contributions from his 44 appearances across all competitions last season, Bucs are still expected to field plenty of enquiries about Mofokeng in the future.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
